The Championship outfit first approached Sunderland nearly two weeks ago, with the aim of taking the ex-Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder on loan.

But the move is yet to be finalised, with Cardiff City and Reading also keen on the 26-year-old.

Evans told the Yorkshire Post: “I know people are still talking and I know for a fact that the president was talking to the representatives of Liam last night when I was with him over dinner.

“To sign good players there’s a lot things that have to be ticked and it’s not just a case of ringing up Sunderland and asking for a player and everything’s hunky-dory and we can do it in ten minutes.

“It’s no hidden secret that the better players are harder to get.”

Bridcutt - yet to make a first-team appearance for Sunderland this season - is understood to be keen to move to Elland Road, despite interest from several other Championship outfits, yet the delay is thought to have been caused by the uncertainty over Massimo Cellino’s ownership of Leeds.